The state chronicle. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1883-1893, 1887-01-06
DR.. HENRY F. SHEPHEkD.
THIS Distinguishes SCHOLAR
WILL LECTUREIN RALEIGH.
A Review OF One of His Most Impor-
tant Works by Il Scholarly Divine OF
I.,I.y
al Cor. STATE CHRONICLE.

Especial Cor STATE CHRONICLE.
THE HISTORY OF THE ENGLISH Ian
GUAGE FROM THE TEUTONIC INV \
SION OF BRITAIN 10 THE CLOSE OF
THE GEORGIAN WAR By HENRY ..
SHEPHERD, PROFESSOR OF THE IN
GLISH LANGUAGE AND ENGLISH
LITER AT | RE, BALTIMORE CITY
COLLEGE.
This is one of the most important works,
properly and purely literary, ever written
by ii native of North Carolina. Professor
Shepherd has every claim, personal and
hereditary. on the respect and good VIII
of the people If the State. His History OF
the English Language, written at the age
of 20, is now in its sixth edition. 1t has
been most favoraby received III Europe as
we'll as in America, aud yet, strange to
say, in North Carolina il is almost un-
known. Before the face of the white man
had ever been seen on this continent, the
wild Indian roamed the field and forest,
the mountain and prairie, without think
ing for a moment of the invisible treas
ures Of coal, of iron, of copper, Of silver
and of gold beneath his feet. With not less
den e but with far less eXcuSable natten
ton we underate or ignore the more
precious intellectual treasures which our
State has freely and richly yielded. GruH
old sam johnson, irritated by the intol-
cradle stupidity of one with whom he was
conducting an argument, with more
point than politeness, shouted out:
Sir, | am bound t. furnish you with
arguments; | am not bound to furnish
you with brains' The application of
this highly characteristic incident may
be modestly left to those leaders of public
opinion and public policy whose proper
business it is to keep the good people Of
the state early and accurately Informed
of the best books of our native scholars
and authors.
Dr. Shepherd has written a number of
other works Of signal merit which might
render Us signal service: works received
with marked approval III England and IN
the United States, but hardly heard Of
certainly not recognized d aud appreciated
in the State Of his nativity, and of which
he is one Of the brightest ornaments
How many among Us are acquainted with
his Historic Reader, the most instructive
and delightful work Of its kind and pur
pose, which has appeared IN our time and
especially intended and adapted to the
Use of schools. His English Grammar, his
educational, pathological and literary IS
SAYS. are perhaps not more extensively
known amongst US, while well known and
higUIy valued elsewhere and abroad. Of
his history Of the English language the
highest authorities have spoken in the
highest terms. DR.. Gilders!teve. of Johns
Hopkins University. says Of it. The plan
seems 10 me excellent and the author has
presented his views with rare perspicuity,
cOncl-enesS and eirgancc- 1t Is especially
honorable and pleasing laudari u laudato.
Prof. Shele de We're, another eminent
scholar and teacher, says of it, II have
no hesitation IN saying that 10 serve as a
Text book in schools of every grade it is
he best work know in The English Ian
guage.
They who wish to prosecute at large in
Quiries into the genesis and oWtli of the
English language have abundant materials
ready furnished to their hands in sharon
Turner's History of the Anglo S4xons: in
Hallams History of Literature; in Pro
fessOr MarSh'S elaborate treatise on the
! English language, and various other works
| not less accessible and authoritative.
| Professor Shepherds volume, less ambi
| tious, less extended aud less expen-
sive, is, Notwithstanding, clear, com
pact, exact, methodical. thoroughly
studied and eminently readable. No
intelligent person can take 1t up wit :
out pleasure, or lay it down without wish
ing as Mr.. Samuel Weller said was the
merit OF a love letter, that there We're
more Of it. This is wish which a greater
Samuel, the illu trious author Of the Ram
bier, affirms can be said of a very few
books only 1t may perhaps be we'll for
mankind that the producers of poems,
historie, speeches. ethical treatises (and
shall | say sermons0 should have more
liberal views than their readers and hearers
inasmuch as the latter enjoy the ines
tinable privilege of dropping the book
or ahsenting themselves from the auditO-
ry until their failing strength is recruit
ed for renewed labors and trials.
hn Erfr rf,Sh l,, I,o \,
people, is made up of many diverse but
contluent and harmonious elements. The
mingled blood of the kelt, the Dane, the
Anglo-SaNon and the Norman circulates
IN the Veins OF the peerless race of the
scep'"red Isle. This doubtless, it is. which
has gwen them those varied and blended
attributes that in every period of Their
history and III every quarter Of the globe;
III peace and in war; in arts and III arms
IN daring adventure and splendid achieve
ment, have raised them 'above ali Ureel.
above all Roman fame" Sc in our roya!
ly endowed tonguet the Anglo-Saxon, the
keltlsh, the Danish the Norman the
Greek, the Latin, and indeed from almost
every language which mas a literature and
some which have none. the English has re-
celEed rich and precious contributions
from the Scandinavian rs We have seen.
!, from the Hebrew, the Arabic the Persian,
the Turkish, the American. the Italian,
the Spanish, the PortugeSe. the Dutch the
German and even from the Malay and the
- Chinese 1t is estimated that the yOca bu.